The Magicain by Michael Scott

Two days ago Sophie Newman had been an ordinary American teenager, her head filled with normal everyday things: homework and school projects, the latest songs and videos, boys she liked, cell phone numbers and Web addresses, blogs and urls.” Now, life is drastically different. Her powers have just been Awakened by the Witch of Endor, who taught Sophie the Magic of Air and made her hypersensitive to all sights, smells, sounds, touch and taste. She’s on the run for her life from the immortal magician and necromancer John Dee, and her twin brother Josh wants to be Awakened and equal to his sister. Jealousy is rearing its ugly head.

The immortal alchemist, Nicholas Flamel, leads their small band of fugitives to Paris in search of another Elder to train Sophie and awaken Josh. With them is Scathach, the Warrior, whose “fighting style is at the heart of just about every martial art.” Unfortunately, Nicholas’s wife Perenelle is not with them. Imprisoned by a Sphinx on Alcatraz Island, Perenelle waits, powerless, for a chance to escape. She and Nicholas have less than a month to live. They’re aging fast, their immortality draining from them, and if they do not reclaim the Book of Abraham the Mage back from Dee, they will die.

If only their deaths were the worst of it.

The Book of Abraham holds more than just the formula for immortality; it contains all the history and secrets of humanity, including spells that could heal the world and return it to Paradise, along with ones that could destroy everything, or even worse, hand everything and everyone over to the power of the Dark Elders. The bad thing is that Dee has the Book and wants nothing more than Nicholas’s death and the rise of the Dark Elders to the rightful place of power. The good thing is that Josh has the two most important pages from the Book, and Dee can’t use it until he gets the pages.

Even better is that Josh and Sophie appear to be the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy --- “The two that are one must become the one that is all.” Legend predicts that twins will be born with pure silver and gold auras, and that their powers will bring about the end of the age. Josh and Sophie have those auras, and Sophie’s powers have already been Awakened. The question is: what kind of end will they bring with them? Good or evil?

It all depends on who controls the twins, doesn’t it? If John Dee gets his way, the Dark Elders rule the world and humanity as we know it will end. If Nicholas gets his, he and Perenelle will survive, the twins will save the world and the Humani will continue to flourish. But even that depends on whose story they believe.

Who is, in fact, telling the truth? Is Nicholas really working for the good of humanity, or does he have some other motive? Who really does he serve? After all, just a couple of days ago, Josh and Sophie were regular teens living regular lives. This whole world of magic and myth didn’t even exist! How are they supposed to know who to believe?

Picking up right where THE ALCHEMYST left off, this second of six books does not disappoint. Conspiracies, magic and battles mix with friendships, doubts and betrayal to make for good characters and an entertaining read.

The Alchemyst by Michael Scott

Fifteen-year-old twins Sophie and Josh Newman don’t believe in legends. What good would it do them anyway? Their parents are away the whole summer on one of their archeological digs, and right now all the twins care about is working hard at their new summer jobs to save money for their own car. By some stroke of luck, they find jobs in San Francisco across the street from each other --- Sophie at The Coffee Cup and Josh at The Small Book Shop. Books and coffee, an ideal combination if ever there was one.

On the surface, Nick Fleming and his lovely wife Perry seem like your typical bookstore owners. But then a strange group of men step out of a limousine at the curb, gray-faced golems lumber into the shop, the air smells like peppermint and rotten eggs, and explosive balls of energy get hurled through the air. Before Josh and Sophie even figure out what’s happening, Nick and his wife kidnap them for their own good and flee the scene worried for their lives.

It seems that Josh’s boss is not who he claims to be. Nick and Perry are really Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel, and their secrets don’t stop there. Records show that Nicholas Flamel was widely regarded as the greatest Alchemyst of all time. His wife died first, and in 1418 he followed her to the grave, nearly 600 years ago. If all this is true, then why are their graves empty?

Somehow, the Alchemyst is still alive.

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

All year the Half-Bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of a victory are grim. Kronos's army is stronger thatn ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan's power only grows.

While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it's up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time.

In this momentous final book in the New York Times best-selling series, the long-awaited prophecy surrounding Percy's sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for the Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate.

The Last Olympian received overwhelmingly positive reviews. Publishers Weekly wrote "...fans will not be disappointed" and remarked "As the capstone to this beloved series, this story satisfies." They praised Percy's "brave leadership" and said that "the final clash would keep a Hollywood special effects team busy for years." Booklist's starred review commented that"...Riordan's imagination soars in the climactic battle scenes" but said that he manages to "bring the whole series to a satisfying close in the down-to-earth conclusion." It also received starred reviews from Kirkus.

The Battle of the Labyrinth By Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson isn't expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But whne a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears on campus, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to worse.

In this latest installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos's army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop the invasion, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth - a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn. Full of humor and heart-pounding action, this latest book promises to be their most thrilling adventure yet.

The Titans Curse by Rick Riordan

When Percy receives a distress call from his best friend, Grover, he prepares for battle. He knows he'll need his powerful demigod allies, Annabeth and Thalia, at his side; his trusty bronze sword, Riptide; and... a ride from his mom. When they arrive, the demigods find more than just mythological monsters awaiting them. Grover has made an important discovery: two new half-bloods, Bianca and Nico, whose parentage is unknown.

But before Percy and his friends can escort Bianca and Nico safely back to camp Half-Blood, they are intercepted by the manticore and an impulsive move by Percy causes Annabeth to go missing.

And she's not the only one: the goddess Artemis is believed to have been kidnapped. But who is powerful enough to kidnap a goddess? It's up to Percy and his friends to find out. They must rescue Artemis before the Winter Solstice; when her influence on the Olympian Council could swing an important vote on the war with the Titans. But first Percy will have to solve the mystery of a rare monster that Artemis was hunting when she disappeared- a monster rumored to be so powerful it could destroy Olympus forever.

The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson's seventh-grade year has been surprisingly quiet. Not a single monster has set foot on his New York prep-school campus. But when an innocent game of dodge-ball among Percy and his classmats turns into a death match against an ugly gang of cannibal giants, things get... well, ugly. And the unexpected arrival of Percy's friend Annabeth brings more bad news: the magical borders that protect Camp Half-Blood have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and unless a cure is found, the only safe haven for demigods will be destroyed.

In this fresh, funny, and hugely anticipated follow-up to The Lightning Thief, Percy and his friends must journey into the Sea of Monsters to save their beloved camp. But first, Percy will discover a stunning new secret about his family- one that makes him wonder whether being claimed as Poseidon's son is an honor, or simply a cruel joke.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school... again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seemto be walking strait out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them.

Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of teh Oracle, ehich warns him of a betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Readers beware. The brilliant, breathtaking conclusion to J.K. Rowling's spellbinding series is not for the faint of heart--such revelations, battles, and betrayals await in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows that no fan will make it to the end unscathed. Luckily, Rowling has prepped loyal readers for the end of her series by doling out increasingly dark and dangerous tales of magic and mystery, shot through with lessons about honor and contempt, love and loss, and right and wrong. Fear not, you will find no spoilers in our review--to tell the plot would ruin the journey, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is an odyssey the likes of which Rowling's fans have not yet seen, and are not likely to forget. But we would be remiss if we did not offer one small suggestion before you embark on your final adventure with Harry--bring plenty of tissues.

The heart of Book 7 is a hero's mission--not just in Harry's quest for the Horcruxes, but in his journey from boy to man--and Harry faces more danger than that found in all six books combined, from the direct threat of the Death Eaters and you-know-who, to the subtle perils of losing faith in himself. Attentive readers would do well to remember Dumbledore's warning about making the choice between "what is right and what is easy," and know that Rowling applies the same difficult principle to the conclusion of her series. While fans will find the answers to hotly speculated questions about Dumbledore, Snape, and you-know-who, it is a testament to Rowling's skill as a storyteller that even the most astute and careful reader will be taken by surprise.

A spectacular finish to a phenomenal series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a bittersweet read for fans. The journey is hard, filled with events both tragic and triumphant, the battlefield littered with the bodies of the dearest and despised, but the final chapter is as brilliant and blinding as a phoenix's flame, and fans and skeptics alike will emerge from the confines of the story with full but heavy hearts, giddy and grateful for the experience.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

The war against Voldemort is not going well; even Muggle governments are noticing. Ron scans the obituary pages of the Daily Prophet, looking for familiar names. Dumbledore is absent from Hogwarts for long stretches of time, and the Order of the Phoenix has already suffered losses.

And Yet...

As in all wars, life goes on. Sixth-years students learn to Apparate-and lose a few eyebrows in the process. The Weasly Twins expand their business. Teenagers flirt and fight and fall in love. Classes are never staightforward, though Harry receives some extraordinary help from the Half-Blood Prince

So it's the home front that takes center stage in the multilayered sixth installment of teh story of Harry Potter. Here at Hogwarts, Harry will search for the full and complex story of the boy who became Lord Voldemort- and thereby find what may be his only vulnerability.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

There is a door at the end of a silent corridor. And it's haunting Harry Potter's dreams. Why else would he be waking in the middle of the night, screaming in terror?

Here are just a few things on Harry's mind:

• A defense Against the Dark Arts teacher with a personality like poisoned honey
• A venomous disgruntled house-elf
• Ron as Keeper of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team
• The looming terror of the end-of-term Ordinary Wizarding Level Exams

... and of course, the growing threat of He-Who-must-Not-Be-Named. In the richest installment yet of J.K. Rowling's seven-part story, Harry Potter is faces with the unreliability of the very government of the magical world and the impotence of the authorities at Hogwarts.

Despite this (or because of it) he finds depth and strength in his friends, beyond what he even knew; boundless loyalty; and unbearable sacrifice.

Though thick runs the plot (and the spine), readers will race through these pages and leave Hogwarts, like Harry, wishing only for the next train back.